Sunday, June 19, 2011

So, here 'tis: Father's Day Sweets for my dad, Jim Yates. But the rest of you can feel free to look, too. :)

Hey, Dad, remember that time the neighbor's little boy snuck in to our house, grabbed your guitar, and dragged it down the sidewalk? Ah, good times.

Also, I don't think your guitar looked quite this cool:

Submitted by Kathy H. and made by her sister, Carol V.

And remember how you'd take me for rides on your motorcycle? The turns always scared me, but I loved having my very own kid-sized helmet, and the thrill of climbing into the seat behind you, hanging on for dear life, and thinking maybe my parents weren't quite so embarrassing, after all.

It took me years to figure out what you did for a living. All I knew was you worked at a big, intimidating office/factory and you wore a suit every day. (Btw, you're, uh, some kind of project manager/engineer type, right?) I still remember the first time you asked me if your tie went with your shirt; it made me feel so important, that you'd ask for my opinion. Actually, I still feel that way, any time you ask.

Remember when I came home crying because all the kids were making flashy, expensive models for a school project, and I didn't have anything flashy OR expensive? You sat me down and asked me what I'd like to do. Then we went to Skycraft Surplus (remember that?). In the end, I couldn't have been more proud: my project board's little Styrofoam car had real working headlights!

To this day, I clearly remember "The Sociological Impact of the Lightbulb" - because my Dad helped me build it.

Remember Starbuck and Midnight, our pet miniature goats? We must have been the only family in an Orlando subdivision with two goats bleating in the backyard. I still can't believe you bought them for us. Heh.

We'd pile into our old green pickup, and you'd sing "Greasy Grimey Gopher Guts" and "On Top of Old Smokey" along the way. Thanks to you I still love the smell of sawdust and grease that hits me every time I walk into our local Home Depot - and today I rock my own tool belt.

Soon we were all watching together, just like we watched Star Trek and Night Court and Monty Python together. The next year you brought us to my very first convention - a Doctor Who convention.

(I like to think my geeky lineage came full circle when John and I brought you and Mom to Dragon*Con last year - thus starting a yearly tradition, perhaps?)

When we were little, you seemed to take sadistic glee in waking Ben and me with loud jazz music, water, or banging suddenly on our bedroom doors - but I'll never forget the time you woke us with "Who wants to go to Disney World?!"

You never set limits on my future, Dad. When I wrote lousy poetry, you submitted your favorite to a national magazine - and you were more disappointed than I was when it wasn't printed. When I thought I wanted to be a professional clown, you got brochures for Ringling College. When I first introduced you to John, you asked if we'd set a date yet.

You taught me to pursue my dreams, marry only for love, and to always finish my Brussels sprouts.

What a wonderful tribute to your father! He sounds as wonderful as my father! Oh, I thought my dad was the only one who sang "Greasy Grimy Gopher Guts!" And now I have "On top of spaghetti, all covered with cheese...." stuck in my head!

What a sweet and loving tribute to your dad, Jen! I'm also indebted to my wonderful father for so much of what I am today and the great upbringing I had (mom definitely deserves a lot of credit too, but it's not her day today, is it?) Happy Father's Day to all the amazing dads out there!

Jen, I'm a big fan and have the calendar on the wall behind my desk at work. Just wanted to say that you just did the impossible, made me remember the positives about my dad who I have spent my life finding fault with. I don't have a lot of good feelings about him, but it just gave me a very warm feeling to remember the two science projects he helped me make. Thank you.

Hey, Jen, I missed you at Dragon*Con last year! I work in the "Consuite." That's the hospitality suite for the attendees where they can get soda, nachos, donuts, pbj's and occasionally real food. Perhaps we could do a "cake wreck" --I'm sure we could decorate our own, we have the atrocious handwriting for it! I know you're busy, but I'll send you an email, and if you come this year, perhaps you can stop and say Hey!

(Very nice Dad tribute, btw. I've been without for 20 years now, so it's lovely to see.)

You made me cry! When I got to the TARDIS I just lost it. That's for my dad who took me to every nerd movie and we sat in the back and were the only ones laughing. (I bet your dad took you to "Buckaroo Banzai" too!)

While all of the cakes & cookies are wonderful, my favorite part is the tag on the flawless shirt & tie. I am in my thirties and my dad is considered elderly but he will always be "my daddy", despite our ongoing joke abt me being the mailman's daughter.

Oh Jenn, your post made me cry. And I LOVED your Doctor Who memory, we watch it with our own kids, our daughter discovering it much the way you did, and the Disney World memory (huge Disney World fans here!)! Happy Father's Day, Jenn's Dad! Take it from one former kid who's dad wasn't strong enough of a person to build wonderful memories or care for anyone more than himself, you've accomplished more in being a loving father to your daughter than anything else you'll ever do in your life! (Luckily I have a wonderful Grandfather who has built those wonderful memories and married a great Dad, who loves building those memories with our kids! Happy Father's Day to those two great Dads in my life!)!

I'm with Sharyn - by the time I'd gotten to the bottom of the post, I was barely looking at the cakes, because I was so entranced by your tribute to your Dad! Thanks for the smiles and for bringing up memories for me, too. :-)

I have tears streaming down my face! What a wonderful relationship you two have, and you are both so very lucky! I can say this as a daughter, mother, and grandmother who would love to know that my children and grandchildren may have memories like this.

The Sunday Sweets are pretty amazing, too!

wv: achingu - As in that sunburn you got yesterday looks painful, is it achingu?

Hmm... maybe I'm a emotionless Vulcanesque creature, but I kinda prefer when you're being totally snarky. When you're channeling your "She who makes monitors covered with snorted coffee and destroyer of Slartiblarfasts" side. But it WAS sweet. Guess I just prefer sassy.

So nice! Your dad sounds as awesome as my dad. We are currently having a cake worthy experience, despite his bad back and knees he is helping me move into my first apartment... Up all three flights of stairs! I can totally see you and your dad doing the same thing! Have a fantastic fathers day!

I, too, have those kinds of memories with my daddy and am lucky enough to still have him with me. Besides being Father's Day, today is my birthday--I love it when the two coincide; it's always a special day for my daddy and me. I was born on Father's Day as well. Since I'm the eldest, it was "Happy Father's Day! You're a father!" I think I really WANT that TARDIS cake for my birthday...

I was all teary reading this, you really gave dad a cool tribute here, good job. It reminded me of my favorite baking blogs tribute to her dad.http://iammommy.typepad.com/i_am_baker/2011/06/fathers-day-cookies.htmlfor the record, i know it can be tacky to leave links to other blogs on people blogs but i thought this was super sweet. If you want to delete it from your comments i totally get that. your still cool with me.

I have a similar memory of Doctor Who and Star Trek and Star Wars with my dad! He still says one of his favorite memories was overhearing me doing the TARDIS noises and humming the theme song with my Barbie dolls.

You made me cry. That is a first for a cakewrecks entry for me. My dad passed away 15 yrs ago and I still remember thinking that the coach had finally put him in centerfield to play. He taught me the team work of sports played fairly and that all people deserve an equal shot no matter what they look like on the outside, it's the inside that counts. Happy Father's day, dad, I hope your having fun!!

Jenn, A truly amazing post. I laughed. I cried. I reminisced of my own wacky childhood. I admired some awesome cakes as I sniffled. You inspired me to do something I hadn't done before...share with you, how much I enjoy your work. Carry on, Shorty and continue to do your magic, and make your dad proud!!Thank You!Elaina Jimenez

Awww... when you said it took years to learn what your father did, I could totally relate! You must listen to the song "My Father's an Accountant (and I used to think that he was dull)" by Peter Himmelman!! You will tear up, it's so sweet. It's all about thinking your dad is kind of boring and realizing he's such a hero!

"He doesn't wear a cape like Superman,there are no mountains that he's brave enough to climb,But if I ever really need him, he'll be there, every time."

YES, IT IS. Have you NEVER watched "Doctor Who"? It's the British version of a telephone booth from the 1950's, referred to as a "call box". The TARDIS, according to the show, has a Chameleon Circuit to disguise itself as an ordinary object, but it got broken and the TARDIS remains in that shape.

That was so sweet and brought a tear to my eye remembering all the great times with my dad! The tie + shirt opinion gave me a great idea for my husband and daughter in the future. Thank you so much for this post!

jenn - thanks so much for such a wonderful post! been a fan for a long time, laughed myself to tears many a time with your snarky wit (and john's and jenn 2).

today i cried with joy and remembrance - you too were blessed with a wonderful father. what lucky girls are we?!?! i lost mine a little less than two months ago and not a day goes by that i don't miss him. you helped spark many fond memories on a day that was becoming increasingly hard!

D'aww... This was so sweet. The green Ford pick up made me giggle. My dad had one just like that, too.. Thing was a freakin' atrocity, but I loved it as much as my dad did. I still remember the musty smell, the torn up and sun-tanned leather seats and the fact that it had no seat belts. xD

I've read this blog since it started, but I've never commented. My favorite memory of my dad is watching Dr. Who with him since I was a baby. Your tribute to a Dr. Who watching dad (even the same doctor as me!) had tears rolling down my face.

Jen, that was just beautiful! I don't have many awesome memories of my dad, so thanks for sharing yours. Also...Jim(the father of Jen), thanks for fostering the creativity in your daughter. She brings happiness and smiles to countless people all over the interweb, and I have a feeling she wouldn't be the same without you!

Oh my gosh, this made me cry! Our dads are totally alike, down to the Dr. Who, Star Trek, science projects, goofy songs and old green truck. My dad even had his own Superman cape ;)... you can see him in it here:

http://littlelovables.blogspot.com/2008/06/fathers-day.html

He died 8 years ago of Leukemia and never got to meet my husband or his grandkids... so thanks for bringing back a flood of happy memories on this otherwise tough day!

Have you never watched the show? It's a POLICE BOX. Says so, right on the box itself, Dr. Who have done specials about the Police Box's history (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3avd8xwzzCk). I don't mean to be rude, it's just one of my pet peeves when people call it a telephone box, when it's clearly not.

You're right and I'm going to go change it in a second. BUT, it is technically a police telephone box since it is used by either the public or the police to call the station. In fact, the box even says "Phone call" on it.

Beautiful post! The combination of the Sunday Sweets and your memories were perfect. Made me tear up as well! My dad passed away in Jan 2007, but this helped me remember him and our times together. And I would definitely share your blogs with him & he would love both as much as I do.Thanks & Hugs!Del;o)

I have to say that todays post made my eyes water. Your Dad sounds like a really great guy, you are so lucky to have had all those funny stories to remember about him. I can totally see where you got your sense of humour and confidence. For those of us who never got the chance to have their fathers in their lives, please give him another hug and let him know again how important he is.

What a lovely post. While you were very lucky to have a father like that (and clearly appreciate him), he's lucky to have a daughter like you! I'm sure he's both embarrassed and touched. And we're all very lucky that you had the parents you had, so that you can entertain us every day :)

My father wasn't into sci fi, he never helped with science fair projects (but he was great with non-science and non-math schoolwork), and is probably only vaguely aware of where the nearest Home Depot is... but he introduced me to cars (from vintage car shows to driving lessons to making sure they're well maintained), and we used to watch football and car chases on TV together. But I think yours dressed better ;) (my father took the whole professor thing a bit too literally!)

Wow, Jen, wow! You should have warned me--I shouldn't have read this at work. Now my eyes and nose are red and . . . I love Dads! I just want to hug ALL of them. . . Seriously, great post. My dad started me on the road to geek with a black and white tv and and an old green truck!

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